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Most Popular Stories
- How Trump’s federal funding freeze is beginning to affect Austin
- APD won’t enforce SB 14 as Paxton and Trump further attack gender-affirming health care
- After shutting off mental health care for Austin musicians, SIMS Foundation restarts services
- Commercial EV station moves forward despite opposition
- Council approves call for better coordination, planning among downtown projects
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- Council Member Mike Siegel will speak out against cuts to federal services
- City manager hosts community meetings on next year’s budget
- DAA offers a look at future of Sixth Street entertainment district
- Zero Waste Advisory Commission adds own ‘no’ rec on merge with RMC
- Former church site offers mix of affordable, permanent supportive housing in SE Austin
Stories by Becky Fogel, KUT
Austin ISD’s budget deficit means staff pay will barely budge without voter help
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve a 2024-25 budget that will require the district to dip into its savings account to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Austin ISD’s annual operating budget will total nearly $954 million after a vote on…
AISD • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jun 24, 2024
Why do so many Austin-area school districts have budget deficits?
Lee esta historia en español At an Austin ISD school board meeting back in March, Trustee Candace Hunter shared a sobering message. “There is no rescue coming. There’s no one coming to save us. It’s only going to get worse,” she said.…
Budget • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jun 21, 2024
An Austin-area school district says staff need a break, so it’s going to offer mental health days
Manor ISD is rolling out a new benefit during the 2024-2025 school year that will give employees time off to take care of their mental health. Superintendent Robert Sormani said he thinks it’s important to explicitly offer days off that are dedicated…
Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • May 9, 2024
Austin ISD plans to cut at least $30 million from its next budget
The Austin Independent School District is working on ways to cut its $60 million budget deficit in half during the next school year, while trying to limit the impact it will have on classrooms. Austin ISD is one of the…
AISD • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Apr 29, 2024
Travis County DA faces removal attempt under Texas law targeting 'rogue' prosecutors
A Travis County resident is seeking to remove progressive District Attorney José Garza from office using a 2023 Texas law aimed at limiting the discretion of locally elected prosecutors. A state district judge in Comal County on Friday appointed an attorney to…
Travis County • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Apr 22, 2024
Austin Community College will offer free tuition to high school grads
The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees on Monday approved a pilot program offering free tuition to local students graduating from high school. Eight board members voted in favor of the program, with one abstaining. The board’s vote comes…
Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Apr 3, 2024
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Austin-area schools overwhelmingly reject hiring chaplains as counselors
State Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat, praised school boards across Texas on Thursday for rejecting a Republican-led effort to let religious chaplains provide mental health services to students. “We are here to celebrate an important victory in the fight against…
Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Mar 4, 2024
Austin-area school board president abruptly resigns and leaves meeting
Del Valle ISD’s board meeting kicked off with a major announcement on Tuesday: Board President Rebecca Birch said she was resigning, effective immediately. She had served on the board for nearly 12 years and spent more than half of that…
Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Feb 22, 2024
5 questions with Austin ISD’s new superintendent, Matias Segura
Lee esta historia en español About one year after Matias Segura became the Austin Independent School District’s interim superintendent, he now has the permanent job. The school board unanimously voted to appoint him to the role. Austin ISD has not…
AISD • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Feb 6, 2024
An Austin-area food bank wants students to get healthy meals, so it opened a food pantry at a school
The Central Texas Food Bank is launching a new program to establish food pantries in schools and opened its first location on Wednesday at Creedmoor Elementary, a Del Valle Independent School District campus. “We are super excited to be a flagship and…
Public Health • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 25, 2024
CEO of Austin-based BookPeople 'ecstatic' over decision blocking law that restricts library books
The CEO of BookPeople said she is “ecstatic” the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday blocked a Texas law that sought to restrict which books are available in school libraries. “I’m so, so happy that they upheld the lower court’s…
Courts • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 18, 2024
Austin ISD will post superintendent job instead of conducting a national search
The Austin Independent School District is scrapping previous plans for a nationwide search to find a permanent superintendent. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to post the job starting Friday. School boards have the power to hire…
